After their team title, the Cadets of OJNice were, of course, present for an individual title.
They are now part of the French team and in the race for the European and World Championships qualifications for France. This is finally the culmination of 10 years of training in close proximity.
The cadets of Olympic Judo Nice had a successful campaign, bringing back 4 medals from the FFJUDO French Championships.
Inspired by Yassine Dehibi, who won the national title in the under 55 kilos category, the young hopefuls of OJNice made an exceptional achievement by positioning all 5 fighters in the French Cadet team.
The national title for Yassine. He did it! Bronze medalist at the French Championships last year, Yassine Dehibi managed on Saturday to seize the national title in the under 55 kilos category at the Judo Institute in Paris.
The Nice native defeated the Parisian judoka Vincent Lamourette, Rodez’s Jean Vincentelli, Lens’s Valentin Bouzidi, Chalon’s Corentin Guainot, and in the semifinals, the Alsatian school French champion Romain Gretz. In the final, our young fighter faced the Breton judoka Mallo Levilain and asserted his dominance.
At only 16 years old, the Nice judoka now holds three national medals. Our young judoka is well on his way to breaking records in the years to come and possibly securing a qualification for the European and World cadet championships.
Pierre – Antoine Abraini and Paul Mantegues: Vice – French Champions.
In the under 73 kg category, Pierre Antoine Abraini could not secure the national title and settled for the silver medal after his defeat in the final against the Parisian Christ Gengoul. Our judoka had perfectly mastered his performance until then, winning his semifinal against the excellent Jordan Bissoli of CPB Rennes. But in the final, Pierre Antoine couldn’t perform at 100% due to a severe injury sustained during the first fight.
Paul Mantegues also claimed the silver medal after being dominated in the final by Orléans’s Valentin Montane in the under 81 kg. After beating the school French champion and other national-level judokas, this medal brought tears to his eyes. “It’s beautiful. The story is beautiful for me because I am a first-year cadet and I’ve been injured in the foot since last week,” wondered Paul.
Luca takes the bronze.
On the tatami, the young from Nice, Luca Otmane (under 66 kilos), was furious for losing his semifinal against Catalan Medhi Alliche, after defeating the French number 1 in the quarter-final, Auvergnat Sacha Martinez. During his competition, Luca multiplied his attacks and exhausted his various opponents. In the 3rd place match, despite a demanding semifinal, the Nice native stayed in the game. He did not raise his arms too early. But once his victory was official, he burst into tears and realized the importance of this podium for the continuation of the international season.
Fabien Biagioli falls just short of the podium.
Everything started well for Fabien. For his first French Championships, the Nice native overcame the excellent Parisian judoka Nzaou Vang – Si by Ippon. After clearing a judoka from the north, Bryan Klein, and an Aquitaine fighter, the Nice native found himself in the quarter-finals against the future finalist, the Parisian Bouba Daikii, but Fabien was caught by surprise at the start of the fight. After winning the repechage bouts, Fabien faced international judoka Walid Khyar in the 3rd place match. After a tense five-minute match, with no advantage recorded, the two judokas continued their fight, and the Parisian won his medal by a small margin.
Mohamed Otmane (OJNice coach): “Fabien, Yassine, Luca, Pierre – Antoine, and Paul did their thing, it’s amazing. All five of our representatives are part of the France Group and have achieved a very rare feat. I am very proud to have experienced this sporting adventure. Out of 5 judokas, we place 5 at the national level. Fabien and Paul, both first-year cadets, show us great potential for improvement. Pierre – Antoine, on the other hand, gave his all and showed a strength of character he hadn’t shown before, and I am proud that he managed to find it and bring it out at that moment. Luca, meanwhile, confirmed his bronze medal at the European Masters in Bremen by finishing on the 3rd step. However, he still holds a certain bitterness, and I understand why. Finally, Yassine confirmed his potential and won his national title after an outstanding competition. Now Luca, Pierre – Antoine, Paul, and Yassine will have to make maximum effort to envisage a future qualification for the European and World Cadet Championships without forgetting school, which remains their priority, where we will support them as much as possible with our academic support within the club.”
